Bishop opens church, prays for God’s presence
The Holy Ghost Catholic Church Adom Gbeev is an out station of the newly created St Robert’s Catholic Mission, Adamgbe, Mbayongo district. The cutting of tape was greeted with huge praises and thanks giving to God almighty who touched the heart of one the natives who single-handedly reconstructed the church. The church was packed and […]
The Holy Ghost Catholic Church Adom Gbeev is an out station of the newly created St Robert’s Catholic Mission, Adamgbe, Mbayongo district.
The cutting of tape was greeted with huge praises and thanks giving to God almighty who touched the heart of one the natives who single-handedly reconstructed the church. The church was packed and the congregation spilled out onto its sides.
Dr Gabriel Amenger Gundu who retired few years ago from the federal service had reconstructed the Holy Ghost church. He built the alter, plastered and painted the walls and floored it. He built the Rev Father’s house there. He supplied pews, installed fans and provided electricity. All this was estimated to cost N3million.
Shortly before commissioning the church, the bishop had commissioned a N3 million bridge on Jidigbe, a stream which worshippers must cross before getting to the church. This bridge was as well built by Gundu.
Gundu also led an appeal fund to raise money for purchase of a pastoral van for St Robert’s Catholic Mission under which the Holy Ghost Catholic Church falls. This out station is the nearest to the mission house. Over N1 million was realised.
The radical sermon
During the sermon, Avenya charged Tiv to be focused and think more of their communities than themselves. He stressed that Tiv who live in cities, build gigantic homes and ignore their communities might not be doing good to themselves, their families and their assets.
He prayed God to be present in the church saying, “May the word of God be heard in this place as it unfolds the mystery of Christ. [God] stretch your hand onto those who call your name. God of mercy send your peace in our families. Bless your people, your family.”
The bishop who described the day as one of praise and worship to God asked God to open the hearts of the people so they worship in truth. Referring to the dialogue between Jesus Christ and a woman, the sonorous preacher explained that the worship of God is no more exclusively in Jerusalem. “If God’s worship were to be only on Mt Zion and Jerusalem, many would not have been able to worship God,” he averred. He told the congregation that worship of God is no more a thing of the house but of the heart adding, “We thank God for helping us to worship wherever we are.”
Bishop Avenya who sermonised in tough words but steady manner told the worshippers to do as they hear. He reminded them that as stated by Apostle Paul, their bodies are God’s temple. He divided the temple into two: the temple built in Jerusalem with stones, wood, nails etc—this is God’s worship place and the second temple which is humans’ body. Because the body is God’s temple, wherever the people are, they can pray and worship God.
But he reminded the people that there is need for them to always come together to pray because when they come together, their petitions to God are better heard. He added, “The temple is supposed to be neat to befit God’s place. As the temple looks neat, so also the life of a believer.”
The dramatic and humorous priest lamented that many indigenes of the locality who live in cities own gigantic homes but have not remembered God. He therefore thanked and prayed for the Gundu family for its wonderful initiative saying, many are wise but their wisdom is limited to selfishness.
He dwelt on the need for parents to take adequate and proper care of their children as according to him, good care of the children is “our future.” He advised parents to guide their children so they can choose courses that will be of help to themselves and society. He prayed God to touch the land through the church.
The radical Bishop Avenya who intermittently drew laughter from the congregation warned that churches are opened due to “pastoral need, not for competition among communities.”
High points of the service were the anointing of the alter with oil and the burning of incense on the alter. The bishop dropped the holy oil on the four corners of the communion table, rubbed the oil round the table with his right hand. He equally dropped the oil on the entrances of the church. He burnt the incense, praying God to fill the church with his presence like the fragrance of the incense.
What is Gundu’s purpose?
Speaking after the service, Gundu said, “My primary purpose of helping my community wasn’t so much to compete with people but a stimulant for others to see that somebody is done in this place. ‘Can we do same in our own place?’ It all depends on resources and commitment.
“There are a lot of challenges involved in helping your people. Some don’t trust you. Even when you bring your resources, you hear all sorts of comments that may discourage you.
“But I was committed. I came from this community and God helped me to succeed. I rose to the highest position I could rise in the federal government and retired. So I feel I should give something back to the community.
“Whatever challenges we have, we should not be discouraged otherwise we’ll not have development. The reality now is we cannot continue to depend on government because government’s resources are limited and government cannot reach every nook and corner to bring about development.”
The mother of the sponsor of the church project, Mama Rebecca Mbanumben Gundu thanked the bishop for coming and spending good time with the local folks. She expressed gratitude to the priest in charge of the mission, Rev Fr Cosmos Jooli and the entire members of the mission for the wonderful support they gave her son to achieve the feat. A local church member, Gabriel Kuresev said, “I’m filled with joy. If our brothers see our sufferings, like this, there will be change.”
Prominent priests in Makurdi Diocese like Rev Fr Moses Orhungur, Rev Fr Oliver Tarkende and Rev Fr Clement Mato were present. Clerics who are of Mbayongo district origin: Rev Bro Clement Tyulen Shior, Rev Fr Richard Iordye Igyor and Rev Fr Matthew Tyokase graced the occasion.